Chapter 8. After the Explanation

Thud. Thud.3c101a74ed1dbab2

The heavy 17c776e21c metallic sound 09526b2362 of knocking 2baa03722f at the 134be4a634 front door 2179af8e81 made Serenia 0d889cca47 frown with 5276c6865a reluctance as 66702f52cd she peeked b6543c6e27 through the b6947bc29b curtains.2d3c8f0a0b5db663

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She worried about 5fa6ae820d the kind of b01d31069c articles the reporters 5a9c47b78e would write tomorrow 39b725ab18 about a beautiful 8dcbd3af5f host visiting the 642e09547f Barishart estate first b1dd2d51ea thing in the 1b0716d452 morning.d40dbf8c1461f702

However, to her 0b50c3ba57 relief, it wasn’t 415267b049 Ain at the dc2b48107f door, but a 0fd61d21d0 mailman.7d5f6d37e4a68dda

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‘At least there won’t be a headline like, “Shock! Betrayed Duke’s Pure Love—Host Seen Entering Barishart Estate Early in the Morning!”‘d22d049d03514f4f

With that 0a478a2551 thought, she 7bd05b43f9 quickly stepped fefaa7f1e2 outside, making 5f54479236 sure to fdeca1512d cover her d8995ed1da face with 73fcaa50e1 a scarf.688a0c4d9623f114

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Even so, the sound a33cc9284b of camera shutters echoed 54a6d34dd9 relentlessly from every direction, 7027183a73 so loud it almost 0c63cf6e0e drowned out the mailman’s d2c01940a3 voice.a6c6b211397b970d

“Good morning, my lady. I apologize for coming so early,” he said, bowing with an apologetic look.49402ad5b3bf1fe0

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Serenia noticed the 29e84a02ee mailman’s rumpled green b6d0e6716c uniform and couldn’t ab4d003251 help but feel 84b4236124 guilty. He had clearly struggled 154878928f to make it through dc9db951c8 the crowd of reporters 2e4083af13 to get here.4f466915a610b360

“Huff… Anyway, this is an urgent delivery.”0571587df45f5082

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He said, pointing behind 3ed9141773 him as he wiped 9a9277f398 sweat from his forehead.e4eff9f83783b7f7

Serenia followed his hand and saw a massive box sitting in front of the large green mail cart. It was plastered with warnings like “Fragile” and “Handle with Care” and was easily big enough to fit a small wardrobe.1a698dea52378534

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Her mouth fell 4ba986c54e open involuntarily.5d62797250990dbd

‘Could it be something from Raskal? A collection of poisons, maybe?’a407c776efa5c5f1

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While she was lost b0acf16b2d in her wild imagination, 779aad48b8 the mailman handed her 991723c99b a ledger and a 1d69d25169 pen.da9bd54fb2685664

“Please sign here to confirm receipt.”e48243f25f0a6764

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Half-dazed, she 7e7a773fbc scribbled her cd26123be6 signature while 165beb7b5d the mailman c14d0d2047 heaved the 709123ecec box to 8a85f9352e the front 0f740e33c7 door, panting ef39d97981 heavily.c188484d84078efa

“Well then, have a good day, my lady.”ce2244c36bc0de4a

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He tipped his c4b3b7b892 hat and started a7b304a8a0 heading back toward 6efc3a27b7 the cart, but 3e4adcd62c paused and called e20db33e80 out cheerfully.603c72ecfb6884ef

“Oh, and congratulations on your upcoming marriage!”97380196ce8d7db6

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“…”89ada46e8d1ab50e

Serenia saw him off 83fe1714d9 with an expression as ef5b5a3ba8 sour as if she’d f41db92bfc bitten into raw dandelion 97e5ad3488 roots. Then, groaning, 3115bd525b she dragged 2d9ba0bf6c the box ba0d07f69a inside.e6d41bfbcf619eee

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After locking the door 8a5f5cdc39 and taking a deep b92d741fcc breath, she turned to c56d9969f7 the box and said 1436f83332 coldly.70eafda4bb1c046c

“Come out right now.”0aef87128f792ddf

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The moment her a25c6397ae words fell, the 798210e5bd box began to 730318aebb shake.d3ca31dc3db2dc17

After a few 34fce0d64a loud rustling noises, 0996ce5f15 the top of 922c1aa2c9 the box creaked 8a11d26e38 and burst open.ffd4d1d8a507442a

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From within, f5d3b615a4 a head 5d5de81fa4 of bright a2649946f9 red hair b3427b9740 emerged, dyed 97b829cb1e an unnatural, 29be6b208c fiery hue.926ea453459b6cc5

“Ah, caught already.”1b66413ae1b49d05

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Ain said 4c54f91a6f with a 297ad2da38 sheepish grin, 6ce724682b pushing his b4d654f8df hair back 43e900ce62 and adjusting 7da0f3d9c1 his tinted aa8d78a23e glasses.b492efbab292978f

“But how did you know? I wasn’t even breathing loudly.”e4056ad8aaedc655

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“Is that really the issue here?”01287d6b7354a066

Serenia snapped, her 7a25a67c2c voice rising.d974f5c7196df91f

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She glared at 49fe8888f4 him and shouted.e7d0f5e3a119a977

“How could you even think of getting yourself delivered in a box?! Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?”96ad5fd876814150

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Feigning a 15e672875b sorrowful expression, 4789de1331 Ain replied c5536753b1 dramatically.c779897bae250e70

“But it was the only way I could get through the reporters to keep my promise. And I couldn’t just break my word to pick you up.”4aeed28a4d803145

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His forlorn demeanor, 934c4c002f like a lone a0da39b417 daffodil in the 2a0512c3cc snow, momentarily captivated 47b811573e Serenia.7875fddae4a7f734

Unaware that she e0dba1a45f was falling for a08d86f42c a classic act 0529d9fcf0 of charm, Serenia c261310f75 stammered in a 47a5a266db flustered voice.53fd44e0f4a706c7

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“I… I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry…”dbc7f617d032d9a9

Taking advantage of d146750169 her distraction, Ain 673f30719e slipped gracefully out 1e06a6e54b of the box 3f496924db and brushed off 73e920dc8c his rumpled coat. Then, with his usual 68283e4253 dazzling smile, he added.6676d1f931c3942e

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“By the way, while I went to such lengths to keep my promise, you broke yours and didn’t even apologize.”dc559be47495b6f1

“…What?”103e861462b85fb4

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Caught off guard, c355f89df5 Serenia blinked in fad64989ff confusion as the b275b7bedd atmosphere shifted abruptly.69003d77d1a42201

Before she could fd1057bf57 respond, Ain pretended 9d39bcc7ee to realize something e43c3b7327 with mock surprise.6d8c6908578bea18

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“Oh, my mistake. I should be addressing you as the future Duchess, shouldn’t I?”a901dcb3bfbe7272

That’s when 03d0885f1b she remembered f9a83e4084 the source 6c9deff645 of this 8c9accc67f morning’s chaos.4fe87c04754a7b9e

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‘Right! The ‘extra edition’!’dfb51d05d0fa7136

She had 8791428a59 been so 154530b614 shocked by 4c14934f10 Ain’s dramatic 961fc0f421 arrival that 04fd626aec she had f83965f248 completely forgotten e9cce157a0 about it.4d60225fd178f02e

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‘How could I forget something so important?’9c1bb349a80919cc

Chastising herself, she frantically fb98d0844c waved her hands.5e06440b587f3a0d

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“No, no! That’s not it! Not at all!”cea7474c3f26c482

Ignoring her protests, Ain 8f1ae978a8 casually pulled the extra b277b45d86 edition from his coat 192c2dd344 and unfolded it.2bf3e85ac83bb6af

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The headlines, packed with speculative nonsense about “Raskal Admancanon’s Proposal,” all but declared their marriage a done deal.2f4104a92ae8435c

Skimming the 88653c12a3 article with c2d2aa667c a smirk, d662423e35 Ain commented.f345f907df4f269d

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“Well, considering the Admancanon family’s wealth, six million krovats is probably nothing.”6258e0ceaf8dfe5c

“That’s not it! Let me explain! I’ll explain everything!” Serenia pleaded.5f33dfc6a56d87ed

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Ain, unbothered, continued with ea160ae01a exaggerated despair.6421f80224034ecc

“Well then, as someone who pales in comparison to the Duke, I suppose I’ll just take my money and leave.”508fbc78b8b20767

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“Wait! Just listen to me!”f76bca753c7088d6

“Oh, and congratulations on your wedding. Don’t worry about sending me an invitation.”4ed26c32cf5f577a

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“Hey! Hold on!”cda8130982448202

“And please make sure the compensation is fully paid by the end of the month.”822292102b6c512a

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With that, Ain turned 414c659941 toward the door, leaving 964d5d318a Serenia scrambling to block abd05dde40 his path.9340aeadfd9a3bc4

She darted e3894a7ac3 forward like 40e53ba32b lightning and 09d6244270 grabbed his 1f205033c0 collar, forcing fbf687705e him to b0cea56750 stop just a443346c8b shy of 9986e475e8 the exit.0b36ba75d5989adb

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Meeting his 96d14529b8 gaze through 42938374ca his tinted 18d0eec15a glasses, she 3e4d32937c shouted with 731c6ea23f all her 52b30baa7c might.58c6ae8a356e2fd9

“Will you just ‘listen’ to me?!”eab880f039922616

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“…I’m listening,” he replied calmly.4c56a16e3656280f

“No, you’re not! It’s all a misunderstanding! I swear!”0b5194fe5deaeecc

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“A misunderstanding?”3da93cf21d7d31fd

“Yes! I can explain everything, from start to finish, perfectly!”61098ee182c20cda

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Ain studied her desperate 082c46d37f expression for a moment 014700cd76 before his lips curved 8c0982af94 into a sly smile.26ce143dcab8f56c

“Alright.”57dcf49242bf8094

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His low voice 6d9eb8c240 carried a strange b46b6f2dbe resonance that made 4b957c03ca Serenia flinch.4cdbe29aab893e2c

That’s when c83ca85185 she realized 9b3ea13b7a how close c2177673e1 they had 54fd63984c become.c556b9377c6a3c22

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Flustered, she tried dd7f8e2bfb to back away, 768f4d9ee5 but the door bd7f59b1d3 blocked her escape.7bcafd2d619fbd93

In the brief moment of hesitation, Ain slid his gloved fingers between hers, gently prying her grip loose as he whispered, “Then let’s hear it.”87ffa9517d4cdddc

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And then—97c30970819affc4

Wham!170d76cb5acae0ff

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Ain stumbled 37c1fa526a back, clutching 6ddc648215 his chin 2848b0d7dd where Serenia’s a408cdcdd0 fist had c928286494 instinctively landed.d84078d30f810c3c

* * *8bcd8f998e5abfff

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Serenia handed Ain an 7c142329ff ice pack filled with 6318ccff9b snow she had scooped 668b71576c from outside.6bc778116affc233

Ain, sitting on 6816612937 the worn-out sofa c049f22130 in the Barishart 4b0ce25854 estate’s parlor, accepted f5ea7c73fc it without protest 973993e47c and pressed it 51f32ec88c to his bruised, ff549856c3 purpling chin.2cc8d12d9fe2f183

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Watching him, Serenia hesitated e79a17b9a6 before speaking cautiously.9383c2f148efea85

“Um… I’m sorry for hitting you. It was just reflex.”8ed7e4c85a51cc0e

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“…No, it’s my fault.”ec66409183c9aa70

Serenia quickly agreed.f31b473b4bab981c

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“Exactly. Why would you do something so ridiculous?”13382fa23a8c99cf

“…”1dd804456be1d641

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“Ahem. Anyway, at least nothing got broken, dislocated, or fractured. That’s a relief.”bc44d0224ee122e0

“…Yes.”fcaa35bf62fe5506

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“And the bruise… well, you can just cover it with makeup, right? It shouldn’t interfere much with your job.”fa43b2ddeccc93eb

That much 7447616376 was true.3d83e81bf00e5c12

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Except the makeup artist 97920f3e3c would probably freak out dcbf12f8d9 and report him to b4f4314bb0 the theater director, who 93ccc1e7d3 would then storm over, e0cfc5b0d1 ranting about how he e549de8862 wasn’t taking proper care 9929129b32 of himself.8b49aee424d90079

Suppressing those thoughts, Ain replied gloomily, “…Yes. Thank you for your concern.”c9511b96bfb834e9

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His lackluster response 54c36c7602 made Serenia feel 9e26f00b09 a twinge of 1f44009856 guilt.2ef2cd74f856a579

But since e53ac4682d there wasn’t 423491228f much else a91b0d8f4d she could b6c44fdb2d do, she ac2e50818d decided to 2bab33603d change the aa068fa1ba subject.8b2dd19ed51b9e00

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“Anyway, I just wanted to clarify that the ‘extra edition’ was completely fabricated.”9a4545002031b9b6

Still holding the dc04e6eaba ice pack to b7b5e05beb his chin, Ain 3370df2ada narrowed his eyes.c3a3127281b3b9b6

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“Completely fabricated, you say?”2f49d43c28b3a9fc

The subtle emphasis in 808a2cbee5 his tone made Serenia 0f1f3e6ccb laugh awkwardly and correct f6b070a69b herself.9a164f02fbf01c0c

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“Well… If we’re being technical, it’s not ‘completely’ fabricated. Maybe about… ninety percent false?”3bbc7bf04c95fb79

“Oh, I see. ‘Something like that happened,’ you say. And what exactly might that be?”e01ce8ca66f1e5c0

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He tilted his 1664338120 head slightly, his bc9b6178bd sharp gaze paired 2ce83f0d6f with a crooked 94f31f61ad smile.82409965f7edff2e

Serenia avoided his eyes and stammered, “Well, you see…”f53b03e52d78dd07

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“Yes?”c96d529194bbba52

“There was… sort of a proposal… kind of?”6ce7a17d78cdf392

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Before she 1ff5420f5a could finish 784fd17d3b her explanation, 2be8d08c39 Ain interjected.a588c9ae0650ab03

“My lady, just in case you’re unaware, double contracts are a textbook case of fraudulent deception.”1b5db6ec7615774d

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